Liquid feed device



May 8, 1934- P. B. Rr-:NFREW 1,958,395

LIQUID FEED DEVICE Filed June 30, 1930 ik K Patented May i934 entre LEQEH) FEED DEVICE Paul Renfrew, Fort Wayne, Ind., assigner to S. il. Ecwser di Company, Inc., Fort Wayne,

Ind., a corporation of indiana Application June 30, 1930, Serial No. 464,734

17 Claims.

My invention relates to liquid feed devices and one of its objects is the provision of an improved and eiiicient jump needle feed device operable in a reverse iicvv or intermittent floiv liquid feeding system, although it may have a specic application to lubricate.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved and efficient apparatus which Will operate when liquid is forced through it in one direction to open a needle valve for the dispensing of liquid to the point desired and when the liquid iiow is reversed by flow in the opposite direction, such flow will close the needle valve.

A further object of the invention is the provision oi simple and eiicient means for adjustment of a needle valve operable by flow in one direction to close the valve and iioiv in the opposite direction to open the valve,

Another object of the invention is the provision of simple and eiiicient means in a feed head operable to open position by iiovv of the liquid in one direction to closed position by oiv of the liquid in the opposite direction, for stopping the dow of the liquid from the feed head independently of such iioiv so that when the now stops there will be no Waste of liquid from the head.

A further object ci' the invention is the provision of simple and efficient means for opening the valve of the feed head when the liquid flows therethrough in one direction and closing the valve when the liquid ows through the head in the opposite direction and so that when the flow is stopped in the first-named direction the valve will again be opened for dispensing of the liquid to the desired point.

A 'further obi-ect of the invention is the provision of simple and eiiicient means for adapting the feed head to a reversing flow system of operation and also to an intermittent now system.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for obtaining a very small discharge of liquid to the part to be fed from the feed head operable in a reversing flow system of liquid feeding,

Another object of the invention is the provision of means in a fee-d head for resiliently opening the valve when the iiow through the head is in one direction and resiliently closing the valve When the iiovv therethrough is in the opposite direction.

A further object or" the invention is the pro-A vision` of an improved fluid pressure rnotor in a leed head for operating the valve thereof.

- Another object of the invention is the provision of resilient centering means for a piston in a feed head which. shall also act to yieldingly close the valve thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for opening and closing a valve of a feed In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated and described my invention as applied to a lubricator for feeding minute quantities of liquid intermittently to the part to be lubricated, but it will be understood that the broader aspects of the invention are equally applicable to liquid feeding devices generally, and the invention is not to be limited by the specific and particular means of exernplication.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a rubrica-tor embodying my improvements; and

Fig. 2 illustrates a system of lubrication including pumping mechanism for securing reversed intermittent floW of lubricant through the lubricator head or heads.

In Fig l, 3 designates the supporting body of the lubricator head having an inlet port and outlet port at 4 and an outlet port and inlet port at 5. The port 4 may be provided `with a suitable connection 6 for a circulating pipe 7; in a similar manner, the port 5 may be connected to the pipe 8 by means of the connection 9. l At the bottom of the supporting body 3 is a nozzle 10 having a conical seat 11 for receiving the needle valve 12. Secured to the top of the valve 12 and extending upwardly therefrom, is a valve stem 13, to the upper end oi which is secured a collar 14 by means of the pin 15.

Screw-threaded into the top of the supporting body 3 is a nut cap 16 which is provided with a cylindrical bearing 17 for the collar 14.

Screw-threaded through the top of the cap 16 is a regulator 18, the lower end 19 of which is spaced a short distance above the upper end of the valve stern 13 when the valve 12 is in closed position as shown in Fig. 1. By unscrewing the protecting cap 20 from the top of the nut cap 16, the upper end of the regulator 13 is rendered accessible so that by means of a screw-driver inserted into the transverse slot 21 the position of the abutment 19 may be adjusted. It is desirable to open the valve 12 only to a slight extent so that there will be only a very small discharge of lubricant from the nozzle 10 or from the lower end of the needle valve 12.

When such minute quantities of oil are discharged i'rom the nozzle under the control of a valve the tendency is for a lm of deposit from the oil to form on the valve seat tending to clog or unduly restrict the ow and thus disturb` the regulated amount of lubricant to be dispensed to the various parts of machinery. In order to overcome this tendency and prevent such deposit, I provide a means for opening and closing the valve repeatedly, thereby keeping the oil within the body 3 near the valve 12 suiiiciently turbulent to render it impossible for such deposit to collect and therefore the valve and valve seat will be kept thoroughly clean and the setting of the abutment 19 can oe relied upon to maintain over a long period of time the predetermined small quantities of oil to be dispensed to the parts to be lubricated.

Slidably mounted on the valve stem 13 is a piston 22 which when in stationary position closes the passageway between the ports 4 and 5. A spring 23 is located between the bottom of the cap 16 and the top of the piston 22 and another spring 24 is located between the bottom of the piston 22 and the collar 25 on the valve 12. The springs 23 and 24 are in the nature of centering springs in that they hold the piston 22 in the position shown in Fig. 1 when the valve 12 is closed and there is no ow of lubricant through the ports 4 and 5.

Concentric with the spring 23 and surrounding the valve stem 13 above the piston 22, is a free spring 26, the lower end of which rests by gravity on top of the piston 22 and the upper end of which engages the bottom of the collar 14.

When flow of lubricant takes place from the port 4 to the port 5 as indicated by the arrows 27 and 28, the pressure on the bottom of the piston 22 will lift the same against the action of the spring 23 and this upward movement of the piston 22 will open the passageway in the chamber 29 between the ports 4 and 5. The spring 26 is such that a weak impulse may be exerted on the piston 22 without resulting in the opening of the valve 12. In other words, the spring 26 holds the valve 12 closed against weak impulses on the piston 22 tending to open such valve.

When the lubricant flows from the port 4 to the port 5 and lifts the piston 22, under the influence of a suflciently strong impulse, the spring 24 will be freed and the spring 26 will be compressed to cause the same to move the valve stem upwardly to the extent permitted by the abutment 19. The valve 12 will thus be opened to a slight eX- tent and lubricant under the pressure of the flow in the system will drip at intervals from the valve 12 or the nozzle 10.

When the ilow through the lubricator head is reversed so as to ow from the port 5 to the port 4 as indicated by the arrows 30 and 31, pressure will be exerted on top of the piston 22 to move the same downwardly against the action of the spring 24, which in turn acts yieldingly on the valve 12 to close the same. When this occurs the springs 23 and 26 will be freed and the continued flow will press the piston 22 downwardly so as to open the passageway between the ports 5 and 4, and therefore flow will Continu@ under pressure while the piston 22 floats in depressed position.

In Fig. 2, a single lubricator head or unit for an isolated point of lubrication is shown between the pipes 7 and 8. A group unit of lubricator heads is shown at 32 between the pipes 3 and 33. Pipes 34 lead from the lower ends of the lubricator heads of the group unit 32 to the various places where lubrication is desired.

In Fig. 2, I have shown pumping mechanism for securing reversed pulsations of the lubricant in a circulating system, comprising the pipes 7, 8 and 33 and the various lubricator heads connected in circuit therewith. This pumping mechanism is connected by means of the pulley 35 to the engine or machine to be lubricated so that whenever the engine or machine stops the pumping mechanism will likewise stop, and whenever this occurs the springs 23 and 24 within the lubricator head may be relied upon to immediately close the valve 12 and therefore there will be no dispensing of lubricant to the engine or machine when the latter is not running.

Mounted on a shaft 36 connected to the pulley 35 are reversely placed eccentric cams 37 and 38 in position to act respectively on the tops of the plungers 39 and 40 which are reciprocable in the cylinders 4l and 42.

The enclosing casing 43 for the pumping mechanism also serves as a tank for containing the lubricant supply. The plungers 39 and 40 are moved down by the cams 37 and 38 and these plungers are moved up by means of the springs 44 and 45. When the cam 38 ismoved from its lowermost position to its uppermost position, the spring 45 acts to lift the plunger 40 and produce suction so as to draw oil from the tank 43 through the intake port 46 past the ball checkvalve 47 into the cylinder 42. When the cam 38 depresses the plunger 40 the ball check-valve 47 will be closed and the ball check-valve 48 will be opened to force lubricant through the pipe 49 into the pipe 33. The flow of lubricant will then be through the lubricator heads in the direction indicated by the arrows 30 and 31, and the piston 22 will be lifted and consequently the valve 12 will be opened.

When the cam 37 is moved from its lowermost position to its uppermost position, the spring 44 will move the plunger 39 upwardly which will result in the opening of the check-valve 50 and the drawing of oil from the tank 43 through the intake openings 51 into the cylinder 41. When the plunger 39 is again depressed the check-valve 50 will be closed and the check-valve 52 will `be opened, resulting in the forcing of oil through the pipe 53 into the pipe 7 for ilow of oil through the lubricator heads in the direction indicated by the arrows 27 and 28. This will result in downward movement of the piston 22 and the closing of the valve 12.

It can readily be seen that the rotation of the pulley 35 and of the cams 37 and 38 will result in a repeated reversed pulsation, resulting in repeated opening and closing or" the valve 12. As above explained, the abutment 19 is preferably set to permit only a slight opening of the valve 12 and the reciprocation of the piston 22 and of the collar 25 will cause such turbulence of the oil in the chamber29 as to make it impossible for any deposit from the oil to form a film on the valve 12 or the Valve seat 11, tending to clog or restrict the passageway. It will thus be seen that a predetermined regulation of the dispensing of the lubricant in small quantities to the parts to structure shown in Fig.. lis also adapted to an inbe lubricated may be maintained ..This will-be true ,also `a1ter...the .engineer machine `has been idle for some time, because assoon as it is again .started and put into operation the reversed pulsation of the oil'` will cause repeated openingand closingof the valve tobreakup. and dislodge any `film of, deposit. from theoil whichhasbeen at termittent iiow in the same direction. Forinstance, if theflow is intermittent in .thedir-ection of the arrows 27.and 28,-the .valvewill be closedat each intermission. The pulsations may therefore be in the same directionascindicated Yiby thearrows 2'7V and 28to eiect Yrepeated opening and closing of the valve 12 with a consequent turbulence of the lubricant in the chamber.29 to maintain the predetermined area of opening of the valve 12 whenithe latter is in its uppermost position as predetermined'by the setting of the abutment 19.

Inasmuch as the lubricator heads are larranged to have their valves open only a slight extent so that onlyA small quantities of lubricant are dispensed from the various nozzles, it will be seen that the larger proportion of the oil is used-for effecting intermittent impulses to openthe valves intermittently.A Provision is thereforermade for returninglthe larger proportion of the lubricant to the tank l43; For this purpose the annular recesses 55 and 58-are provided in theplungers 39 and 40. The cams37 and 38 are so designed-that the outermost portions thereof Yare concentric with the axis of the shaft 36 over a suficiently large angle to hold the annular recesses 5,5 and 58 intheir lowermost positions at certain periods of operation. For instance, while the camr38 is depressing the plunger 40 to force the lubricant past the check-valve 48 into Vthe pipe 49 and thence into the pipe 33 to the lubricator heads, the

arcuate portion of the cam 37 holds the annular recess 55 in registry withA the passageway `56.

',Thelarrangement may be such that the annular recessu55 is held in the position shown in Fig.- 2 until the plunger 40 reaches the lower limit of fits stroke. The oil in excess ofthe quantity required for the lubricators passes through the pipes "e8 and '7` into the pipe .54 and then through the annular recess 55 into the passageway 56 and past the check-valve 57 to the interior of the tank 4:3.l ,y n I When the positions of the plungers 39 and 40 are reversedthe excess oil after passing through 4the lubricators flows through the pipes 33 and 59 into the annular recess 58 and then into the passageway 56 and past the check-valve 57 into the tank `4:3.

Claims drawn to the combination of the valve and the system are to be found in a divisional application pending concurrently herewith, Serial No. 659,799, filed March 6, 1933.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and. scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and I wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of my invention. what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a liquid feed device, the combination with a supporting body having an inlet port and .an outlet port, of a.. discharge nozzle, a valve therefonastem connected to said valve, a piston slidableon ,sa-id. valve stem and tting a cylinderin saidsupporting body, a ,spring be- -tween saidtvalve and said piston, anotherspring on...the .other side of said piston between the Alatter and the said supporting body, a collar on that endof said valve stem remote from said valve,-means affording a cylindrical guideway for saidcollar, and a third spring between said piston and-saidcollar.

Y 2. In a liquidfeed device, the combination with of flow, a valvefor saidnozzle, and means op.

erableby the fluid flow for opening the valve when the ow is in one direction and closing the valve when the iiow is in the opposite direction.

4. In a liquid feed device, the combination with a casing having an inletY port andan outlet port, of a nozzle in a branch from the line ci flow through said ports, a valve for said nozzle, and fluid pressure operated means comprising a diaphragm mounted in the casing in the line of ow and to open and close said ports and to openlsaid valve and hold the same open while such flow continues.-

5.y In a liquid feed device, the combination with a supporting/body having an inlet port-and an outlet port, of a nozzle for a branch from the main line of ilow through said ports, a valve for said nozzle, a valve stem, a piston slidable on said stem between said ports, and a spring acted .on by saidpiston to impart through said stem an opening movement to said vaive.

6z In a liquid feed device, the combination with a supporting body having inlet and outlet ports, of a valve for a discharge opening in said body, a piston in said body between said portsfa spring connected between one side of said piston and said valve to effect opening thereof when the fluid flows through said ports in one direction, and another spring connected between the other side of said piston and said valve for closing the latter when the fluid flows in the opposite direction.

'7. Inra liquid feed device, the combination with a supporting body having inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected to an intermittent now circulating system, of a valve for an opening from the main line of uid ow, a piston in said body, a spring for restoring said piston when the ow in a predetermined direction between said ports stops, means connected between said piston and said valve to open the latter when flow in such direction is resumed, and means for holding the piston between said ports when no fluid ilow ii.'-

pressure is exerted thereon.

8. In a liquid feed device, the combination with a supporting body having inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected to an intermittent flow circulating system, of a valve for an opening branching from the main line of fluid dow, a piston in said body, a spring for restoring said piston when the flow in a predetermined direction between said ports stops, a spring connected between said piston and said valve to open the lati ter when the fluid flows in such predetermined. 'f direction, and an additional spring between said piston and said valve for closing the latter when said piston is restored to initial position.

9. In a liquid feed device, the combination withA a supporting body having an inlet port and an. outlet port, of a valve for an opening branching from the main line of flow, a piston in said body, resilient restoring means for said piston, and a. .spring connected between said piston and said` valve to open the latter when the piston is moved by the fluid now between said ports.

10. In a liquid feed device, the combination with, a supporting body having an inlet port and anA outlet port, of a valve for an opening branching from the main line of iiow, a valve stem connected to said valve, a piston slidable on said valve stem, a restoring spring abovef'the piston, and a spring connected between said piston and. said valve stem to effect the opening of theI valve when the iiuid iiows between said ports. and moves said piston.

11. In a liquid feed device, the combination. with a supporting body having an inlet port and an outlet port, of a valve for an ropening branch-- ing from the main line of liquid flow, a pistonV in said body, means for yieldingly holding said piston in a predetermined position when the flow` stops, a stem connected to valve and extending slidably throughV said piston, a free spring on tcpof said piston, and a collar on said piston in. position to be moved by said spring when nuid. ow moves said piston to open said valve, said. valve closing automatically by gravity when the uid flow stops and said piston is restored to itsy initial position.

12. In a liquid feed device, the combination with a valve, of a valve stem, an adjustable abut-- ment for limiting the movement of said valve stem. and the opening of said valve, and a fluid pres-- sure motor comprising a piston slidable on said. Valve stem and a spring connected between said piston and said valve stem for imparting an open-l ing movement to said valve.

13. In a liquid feed device, the combination with a supporting body having an inlet port and an outlet port adapted to be connected to an intermittent reversible circulating system, of a line of now, a stem connected to saidvalve, a collar at that end of said stem remote from thevalve, an adjustable abutment in position to be engaged by said stem to limit the extent 0f opening of said valve, cylindrical guiding means for said collar, a piston in said supporting body slidable on said valve stem, a spring between said body and one side of said piston, an additional spring between said valve and the other side of said piston, and a free spring between said collar and said piston to impart an opening movement to the valve when the piston is moved by fluid flow Lacasse 'fin one direction, said additional s'pring between :said piston and said valve imparting a closing :movement to said valve when the fluid now is in :the opposite direction.

14. In a liquid feed device, the combination yof means forming a liquid flow line having a branch outlet provided with a valve seat, a valve ifor said seat, means 'for forcing liquid through 1said line, means for opening and closing said valve with respect to the seat, and means for causing :a turbulence of the liquid adjacent the valve ;seat for preventing the formation of a nlm of dejposit thereon.

v15. In a liquid feed device, the combination of :means forming a liquid flow line having a branch loutlet provided with a valve seat, a valve for said fseat, means for forcing liquid through said line, :means for opening and closingsaid valve with :respect to the seat, and means shiftable by the :flow of liquid for agitating the liquid adjacent the valve seat for preventing the formation of a :lm of deposit thereon.

16. In a liquid feed device, the combination of :a feed head comprising a casing having a liquid :inlet port, a liquid outlet port, and a communicat- :ing chamber, said chamber having a nozzle provided with a valve seat, a valve for said seat, means :shiftable relatively to said Valve and lying in said chamber and being constructed and arranged to Iopen and close communication between the inlet 105 jport and outlet port, means for yieldingly holding said iirst mentioned means in balanced portclosing position, said first mentioned means beingshiftable by liquid pressure thereagainst Yto lopen communication between said inlet and out- 110 let port, and means operated by the opening movement of said iirst mentioned means for actuating said valve. l

1'7. In a liquid feed device, a feed head comprising a casing having an inlet port and an out- 115 Ilet port and a communicating chamber, said chamber terminating in a nozzle having a valve seat, the opposite end of the chamber being provided with a hollow extension, a valve for said -valve seat, said valve having a stem passing 120 through said chamber and through said hollow extension, and being provided with a head, said vstem and said valve being provided with an abutment, a sleeve slidable on said stem and provided 'with an annular projection co-operating with m5 4the walls of said chamber to provide a piston, a Iirst spring between said abutment and said piston, a second spring between said piston and the wall of the casing adjacent the hollow extension,

:a third spring encircling said stem betweenrsaid 1 piston and the head on the outer end of said valve,

and adjustable means positioned in the path of movement of said valve stem and head for regulating the shifting movement of said valve.

PAUL B. RETFREW. 

